By Dr. Rebecca Price Janney,
M
issio Alum, DMin 2000
The assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King and Sen. Bobby Kennedy shook the foundation of 17-year-old Melanie McKnight, an aspiring journalist and daughter of an acclaimed TV anchorman. Sweet, Sweet Spirit describes Melanie’s spiritual journey, from Princeton to Harvey Cedars, NJ (with cameo appearances by HC Bible Conference director and former Missio board chair Al Oldham) to Richmond, VA and then to Asbury College in Kentucky where God met her in a special way during its February 1970 revival.
When asked if her studies at Missio (DMin, 2000) influenced her writing, Rebecca enthusiastically responded, “Yes. Absolutely. I was able to further develop a theologically-informed understanding of history. I was encouraged by those who recognized this gift [writing] in me. Professors encouraged me, saying ‘Let’s nurture that and see how we might develop the gift God has given you.’ My writing has been helped by understanding how God is acting in history. One professor, Gary Shogren, really believed in me. He too was a keen student of history.”
-Thomas D. Skinner